Sweet flavor and cold thermal nature. Acts on Stomach and Intestines meridians.

Active compounds:

Recognized for its high potassium content that retards deterioration of internal organs and prevents high blood pressure and heart diseases, banana offers many other beneficial nutrients as well as 10 different vitamins and more than 15 minerals and trace minerals. Contains serotonin which is a good mood hormone. Glucose and fructose in banana are a good source of energy.

Clinical Usage and Indications:

• Tonifies stomach; promoting regeneration of body fluid. Dry throat, thirst due to stomach Yin deficiency. Ripe bananas excellent for treating ulcers. Restlessness, and thirst during febrile disease. Chronic cough with lung Yin deficiency: eat raw or make a decoction with crystal sugar
• Tonifies Yin and moistens dryness. Dry stool, constipation due to dryness of the intestine. For

hemorrhoids (bleeding), cook with the peel for 20 minutes, in water, remove from the stove,

take off the peel and eat the cooked banana, throw away the peel

• Hypertension, arteriosclerosis, or coronary heart disease. Banana prevents high blood pressure. Eat 3 – 5 bananas a day. Make a tea with 50 g banana without peel. Chop into small pieces, add 10 g Chinese black tea, and cook for 10 minutes, remove the tea leaves, add sugar to taste and drink.

Directions: Eat raw on their own, In oatmeal or on top of cereal, in yogurt, in a fruit salad, in a smoothie, steamed or cooked. Crushed ripe banana makes an excellent ointment for wounds and burns, supported by a cloth bandage.

Precautions: Do not eat too much. Can cause diarrhea, (loose stool due to Spleen Yang deficiency).

From The Tao of Tummy © book